CAMILA

At Camila's Therapy Office,

"Anything you'd like to add?"

Dr. Patel's office was warm, soft lighting, plants in every corner. A safe space.

Camila twisted her hands in her lap. "It's been 2 years. Shouldn't I remember something by now?"

"Memory doesn't work on a schedule." Dr. Patel leaned forward. "But you said you've been having fragments?"

"Yeah...Like a dream. Feels like I remember some things but not everything." Camila swallowed. "And now... I'm working with someone who says we've met before."

"Eric Sylvester." She added.

"You really can't remember if you've met him before?"

Camila nodded.

"Does your body react to him? I mean in anyway?" Dr. Patel asked.

Camila nodded again. Her hands were shaking again.

"What does your instinct tell you?"

"That I need to remember. That whatever I'm forgetting... it's important."

*******One Week Later,

"Uhmm...Camila? You need to see this?! I can't believe this and I'm so happy for you right now." Evie burst into her the office with a letter. Camila was still attending to Richard. 

She gave her a glance and sighed. "I'm busy, Evie. You have to come later." She told her and turned back to him. "So, lastly, you need to take the anti-depressant medications to the warehouse for further distribution." 

Richard nodded and got up from her seat to the door. Evie immediately took over, facing Camila with a huge grin. She cleared her throat. "Now, it's time to talk about this good news." Evie flaunts the letter across her face. 

"What kind of letter is that? Is that for me?" Camila asked, staring at the letter with a frown.

"Oh well. You are going to be proud when you hear this."

"Evie, please. Just tell me."

"Okay, okay, proud one. You've been transferred to the HQ to be the lead biochemical researcher of a new billion-dollar project. I mean, that's the greatest news I've ever heard. Omg! I'm so happy for you!" She started chattering but Camila had tuned out.

HQ? How did she get that kind of a huge transfer and position? Wait...It's not like she's been punished or something? She scoffed. Definitely not!

She snatched the letter from her and read the content. "This isn't good news Evie." She said and Evie who is still chattering suddenly stopped and gave a frown.

"Did you just say something? What isn't good about this letter, Camila? You're still not going to change concerning this proud attitude of yours? Girl, this is golden opportunity and you need to grab it. And also, you're going to be in a room with that Eric, famous billionaire bachelor." Evie's voice took on a strange tone, almost protective? Fond?

Camila frowned. "You say that like you know him."

"Everyone knows him," Evie deflected quickly. "Anyway, you should go!"

With a sigh, "Evie, I'm not going to the headquarter." She got up immediately. "This is worst offer I've ever received. I'm not doing this job. I need to see Mr Dante." 

"There goes you, Camila! You can't keep doing this to yourself. Don't you want to get promoted?" She huffed but Camila was already out of her office. "Argh! I do not see anything bad in becoming a lead project blah blah. That's huge money! Wait, does she have a bad past with him that he always avoids that dude? Fuck! That makes me more curious."

Camila knocked at the door and waited for response, before she could let her mind drift apart, a familiar croaky answered. "Come in"

"Good morning, Mr Dante." She bowed slightly at the old looking man in his fifties who was busy reading a fashion magazine. He nodded and adjusted his glass away from his nose.

"What brings you to my office, Mila?" He gave her full attention.

"Well, It's concerning this letter I received. To be a lead researcher on a project. I....I can't do this." She breathed out. 

Mr Dante let out a small laugh. He dropped down the magazine. "You're going to reject that offer I find so hard for you? Do you know the exact length I went through just to gain that man's trust that you will do a better job?"

"Sir......This feels like a punishment and you probably wanted to get rid of me and this is a perfect opportunity for you."

"Well, I just gave you a life changing promotion. All i need is thank you. And i see you have that special talent in you that's not supposed to be used here. Use it in a higher place." He returned to his magazine, flipping to the next page.

Reluctantly, she sat down on a couch across the office. "I heard he's ruthless and cold. I do not want to be near to people like him. He's wicked too." She mumbled the last words. Unsure if it's a better way to describe him as a bad jerk. 

"The last time I checked, Eric Sylvester is not into mafia. So, I don't see any reason why he should be what you described him just now. Well, maybe if you start your job with him, you might see some good changes in him." Mr Dante shrugged. 

"When am i starting?" Camilla asked.

"Well, today's monday so you should go now. He doesn't talk much so I couldn't get much information from him. But I already sent him more information about you to him. He would want you to show up i guess, they have a meeting today."  

"Oh....I still haven't decide if I will do this or not. I will get back to you when I...." Mr Dante cut her off.

"You're doing it, Milla. Just do it. It's just until the project is done and I know you are so good at this. That's why I recommended you." He smiled at her. "I do not want to hear anything from you, all you have to do is to go to the HQ now and go show yourself." He flipped another page of the magazine. 

Camilla got up with a hiss, mumbling words to herself. She left the letter in the office and walked out.

Evie was at the door waiting for her.

"So what's up? Are you going to accept the offer or you want it passed down to me? I'd be glad to go in your stead." Evie grinned, tugging her dress.

"Go to your office, Evie. I need some space to think about it." She sighed.

"No need to think about it. I've moved your things outside and there's a cab waiting for you to take you to the HQ." Abruptly, Camila turned to her with a questioning look. "What! Don't worry, I paid for it."

"Evie, I need to at least find a place to move into before i even start going to that HQ! " She groaned, rolling her eyes at her.

"The thing is, everything has been made available for you."

"You're talking as if you participated in pushing me out of this place." Mila turned to her fully, folding her arms. She must have something to spill.

"Well, you can't say or tell so let's keep it that way. All you need to know is that, Mr Dante and I have made everything ready for you. Best of luck, sugar. I can have your office all to myself. " She twirled around, giggling.

"God knows what you guys have been doing behind my back." Camila muttered and proceed to her office. 

It was empty. Really empty. 

In just that space of time she went to meet Mr Dante, Evie had packed her things out. That silly coconut head of a girl.

"What should i do, God? Not ready for this big thing that just landed in my hands like a piece of chicken."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ERIC

Eric watched the video Ad as it came to an end on his tablet, He removed his eyeglasses with gentle caution, placing them on the table before him and turned his attention to the lady who has been watching every of his moves with a lick of tongue. His secretary. He knew but chose to ignore. 

He doesn't give a shit about it. He would fuck her whenever he likes but now, he needs to watch her more often.

"How's the Ad sir?" Clara questioned, then proceed to drop the files in her hands. Her breast peeking for her flora short dress.

Eric looked briefly, "Yes, It's okay. Tell them I will not be around for the meeting. Josh will represent me." He took the files and opened. Then he smirked at the small picture glaring at him from the information file. "She's the one leading the project, right?"

"Yes, sir. I received a call that she's on her way already." Clara responded with a nod. Irritation appeared on her face as she glared at the picture Eric was smiling to. 

"Good. Set up a meeting with other new project members selected when she arrives. We have to move fast before the Luxoria takes any step. We are to be three times ahead of that goddamn company." He replied, waving his hand to dismiss her out of his office. 

Eric leaned back to his chair, his fingers drumming the hardwood table. His mind wandered off to the woman that seems to take another space in his every day thinking again. That week was not the first he'd met her. He'd seen her somewhere before. 

But where? 

His phone chimed, a message popped in and he read. After, his eyes caught his wallpaper on his phone, It was a picture of a dirty blonde lady in a white dress turning her back at him. Her face impossible to see. He sighed. He didn't know who she is and had no memory of how the picture got his screen but somehow, he didn't want to change it.

CAMILA

Camila groaned as she got out of the cab with her things packed neatly in a box. She stared at the building for the second time she's been here again. 

"Breathe, Camila. You've got this. All you have to do is to do your job and leave as soon as possible." She breathed in and out before moving forward. 

She'd been called by that annoying sounding if she was right secretary, that a meeting will be held as soon as she comes into the HQ. Mila walked further in, and the place seemed to part for her, security gates sliding back, elevators ready and waiting in hush.

She reached the elevators, feeling her heart calm, her stance set. Whatever waited above like deals, money, men who assumed power was a given especially her boss, she felt set for it.

Camila got to the lobby, her eyes wandering to see if she could find her new place and luckily, it was right ahead of her with the huge placard written 'Project lead office'. She quickly settled in. 

She gasped at how bigger it was than her former office. She could see the busy city from here. Okay, this is one great opportunity. Her phone chimed and that cut her office tour short. 

'The meeting is about to start. Come to the conference room.' She read aloud the first one.

The second one was from her mom, she sighed. Another number.

And a voicemail.

Against her better judgment, she played it.

"Camila, it's your mother. Again. Since you refuse to answer my calls like a respectful daughter, I'll leave a message. I need you to call me back about the money for the gala. And I spoke to Mrs. Henderson at the club, her son is a doctor. A real doctor, not a lab technician. I gave him your number. His name is Bradley. He'll call you. Try to be pleasant when he does, though I know that's difficult for you. And please, wear something flattering. He's seen your Instagram and apparently you need to update your photos. The ones from your father's funeral make you look dowdy. Anyway, call me back. Or don't. You're probably too busy with your little experiments to care about family. Bye."

The message ended. Camila deleted it.

She walked out of the door, a woman had crossed her.

 "Dr. Camila?" A woman in her late thirties appeared at her office door. Perfectly styled auburn hair, designer glasses, professional smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

 "I'm Dr. Sarah Jenkins. I'll be your senior research associate on the project."

"Oh! Nice to meet you." Camila stood to shake her hand.

"I have to admit, I was... surprised when they brought in someone from regional." Sarah's smile tightened. "I've been with the project since its inception. Eight months of groundwork."

"I'm sure your work has been invaluable," Camila offered diplomatically.

"Mm." Sarah's gaze swept over Camila's office. "Well, I've prepared the latest reports for you. We have a lot to catch you up on."

"They didn't even let me rest." She mumbled as she grabbed her laptop that was still warm. She had at least wanted to present something when she has read about what the project would be and what have been done so far. She'd done little of her research, at least that would show she was a serious and worthy enough to be the Lead Biochemical Researcher.

ERIC

Earlier, 

From up here, glass bent the light, steel blurred at a distance, his eyes wandered to his tablet, then paused.

Someone had come through the revolving doors. It was Camila.

He leaned back a little and watched. Quite amazing.

She swept her gaze across the lobby.

That was different.

She dropped her pace near the living wall, just enough to register that tangle of plants managed with impossible precision. Oh God!

She stopped at the elevators, hands at both sides of two boxes on top of each other, just waiting. No phone, no twitchy movements, not looking for anything to do.

He let out a slow breath. The unsettled feeling of spotting someone who moved through the world at your own pace. He must be crazy at this point because he's not even supposed to be staring this long at her. 

What's special about her?

The elevator doors slid shut behind her.

He sat up straighter, the meeting ahead suddenly not so routine anymore.

For the first time that day, he felt fully awake.

And though he couldn't explain it yet, somehow knew the building wasn't the only thing she'd end up quietly controlling. Maybe him too. 

Damn! And.... she's...she's fucking beautiful. He grunted at his own admission. 

>>>>Present,

The moment the doors clicked shut, the noise in the conference room on the forty-eighth floor vanished. Glass walls, city skyline sprawling beyond them, and a table that seemed to stretch on for so long you could almost measure power in miles.

Eric sat at the head, jacket tossed aside, sleeves rolled up just far enough to show he meant business, not performance. The sunlight caught his skin, highlighting the faint veins beneath it. He ignored the other executives, eyes fixed on the empty chair to his right.

She will seat beside him. He'd let that happen for sure. 

An executive started, "She's on her way. Should we start the meeting now before........" 

"We'll wait." Without giving a glance at whoever dared to break the silence of the room.

The silence stretched. One second. Another.

The doors slid open.

CAMILA

Camila walked in, a laptop tucked under one arm, gaze already sweeping the room sizing everyone up, deciding who mattered. There was nothing anxious in her movements, just straight line confidence.

"Dr. Camila," a bald man announced, standing halfway. "Project's lead biochem."

Her eyes met with Eric. No real sign of being impressed.

"Let's just get this started with." She muttered under her breath but he heard her.

With a smirk, devilish one at that, "You're late," he said.

She set her laptop down. "Uhm.....I was double checking results, sir."

Chairs creaked as a few people shifted, uncomfortable.

Eric's attention tightened. He didn't look away.

"Good. Sit."

She dropped comfortably into the seat beside him (the one that usually stayed empty unless you'd earned it) but didn't matter right now, and plugged her laptop in. A network of molecular diagrams flickered across the glass wall.

She got right to it, "The compound is holding up. But pushing into Phase II this quarter? Too risky." She shook her head, glancing at him.

"That delay bleeds us out two hundred million," an executive said, voice pinched.

She didn't even acknowledge him. "I understand perfectly." Camila met his gaze. "I also understand what happens when we rush drug trials. People die." With a shrug.

Silence again, heavier this time.

Eric leaned back a little, weighing her words but seemed in no rush for conclusions.

"Explain."

She pulled up more molecular diagrams. "We're seeing anomalies in the binding affinity tests. Push to Phase II now, and we risk catastrophic failure. Or worse, approval with hidden side effects that surface in year five."

"Like the Baxton trial," someone murmured.

Camila nodded. Baxton Pharmaceuticals had rushed a cardiovascular drug to market five years ago. Thirty-seven patients died before the recall.

"Exactly like Baxton." She agreed.

Eric studied her. The entire room seemed to hold its breath.

Finally, "We delay six months. Dr. Camila runs additional trials." He stood. "Meeting adjourned."

As the executives filed out, Sarah paused at Camila's elbow. "Interesting first day," she said quietly. "Making enemies already."

"I'm here to save lives, not make friends."

Sarah's smiled. "How noble."

***************************************************************************************

Ten minutes later, the meeting wrapped and one by one, the executives slipped out. Eric stayed back and watched closely as she snapped her laptop shut. 

Silence hung in the air for a while.

Then, he suddenly closed the space between them and stared deep into her eyes. 

No, her soul. Looking at him was like staring into waves you know will pull you under, and letting them. 

"Have i seen you before?" He questioned again.

Camila met his stare. "I don't think so." Where else would she..... "Except the last time at the reception."

"No, Not that. I swear i've seen you somewhere. Never mind, it doesn't matter. This project is worth billions. I don't accept failure." His eyes held hers. "Understand?" A threat wrapped in professional language. Somehow more terrifying than if he'd shouted.

"It was against my choice to be the project lead so i don't think......" He cuts her off.

Typical. Everything has to be his way.

"Just make the project successful." She nods and stepped back away from the weird heat she was feeling already. His closeness sends distracting signals to her body cells. 

His phone lit on the table. Eric lifted it, and for a split second. Just a heartbeat. Camila's eyes caught the screen.

Her breath stopped.

The wallpaper. A woman in a white dress, back turned, hair catching sunlight.

The world tilted. Hospital. White sheets. The smell of antiseptic. A dress she couldn't remember putting on.

>>> 

"Ms. Camila? Can you hear me?"

A doctor's face swam into view. Kind eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.

"Where...?" Her voice cracked. Throat raw, tongue thick.

"You're at Mount Sinai. Do you remember anything?"

She tried to think. Tried to grasp at anything. But her mind was a blank room, echoing and empty.

"What... what day is it?"

"April 6th. Wednesday."

April 6th. But the last thing she remembered was... was...

"March," she whispered. "It was March. The 15th. I was... I was at work. I wanted to meet with..." Who? She couldn't remember.

The doctor's expression shifted. Concern. He glanced at someone else in the room.

"Ms. Camila, you have three weeks loss of memory."

Three weeks?! Like One, two, three weeks?!

"What happened to me?"

"We're not entirely sure. You were found unconscious on floor in a road accident. A woman in a white dress, the witness said. You'd been drugged too. Rohypnol, most likely, mixed with something else. The combination caused severe retrograde amnesia." He explained.

"The dress I was wearing... where is it?"

"With your belongings. Though..." The doctor hesitated. "It's very expensive. Designer. The police think you may have attended some kind of event."

Who was she during that time?

And why couldn't she remember any of it?

Later, a nurse brought her the dress in a clear plastic bag. Camila stared at it. White silk. Elegant. Beautiful. But completely unfamiliar.